S 4412 — Provides for youth mental health care professionals in family court.

S4412 1R [First Reprint] SENATE, No.

  CURRENT VERSION OF TEXT      As introduced.reported by the Senate Health, Human Services and Senior Citizens Committee on June 11, 2026, with amendments.

            1.1.  (New section) a.

 (New section) a.

          “Youth” means an individual under 211[21] 181 years of age.

          “Youth mental health care professional” means a social worker, psychologist, or psychiatrist licensed or certified pursuant to Title 45 of the Revised Statutes with experience in youth development, youth mental health conditions, trauma and the impact of trauma, trauma-informed practices, and evidence-based mental health services.

          b.   b.   The Superior Court, Chancery Division, Family Part in each vicinage shall provide for a youth mental health care professional.professional.  At the discretion of the Administrative Director of the Administrative Office of the Courts, a youth mental health care professional may serve more than one vicinage so long as the youth mental health care professional maintains a reasonable caseload.

 At      thec. discretion of the Administrative Director of the Administrative Office of the Courts, a youth mental health care professional may serve more than one vicinage so long as the youth mental health care professional maintains a reasonable caseload.

    The c.youth mental health care professional shall support and advise the court 1upon the request of a judge, and where the judge determines that the youth may benefit from mental health services,1 in 1[every] an1 action or proceeding submitted to or heard by the Superior Court, Chancery Division, Family Part, where a youth is a party to the action or proceeding or a subject of the action or proceeding.  The youth mental health care professional shall assist 1and collaborate with other mental health practitioners and service providers as necessary to assist1 the court with identifying youth with mental health needs, recognizing when specific mental health interventions are indicated, providing referrals for evidence-based mental health services when appropriate, and connecting youth and caregivers to appropriate supports in a timely manner.

The      youthd. mental health care professional shall support and advise the court in every action or proceeding submitted to or heard by the Superior Court, Chancery Division, Family Part, where a youth is a party to the action or proceeding or a subject of the action or proceeding.

 TheNotwithstanding youth1[section mental1 healthof careP.L.1991, professionalc.119 shall(C.2B:5-1)] assistN.J.S.2B:5-11, thea court with identifying youth with mental health needs,care recognizingprofessional whenhired specificpursuant mentalto healthP.L.    interventions, arec.    indicated,(C.        providing) referrals(pending forbefore evidence-basedthe mentalLegislature healthas servicesthis whenbill) appropriate,shall andbe connectinga youthState employee and caregiversshall tobe appropriate supports in athe timelyunclassified manner.service.

          d.e.   The youth mental health care professional shall have access to all information and records relevant to the youth, including 1,1 but not limited to:  school records 1[,] ;1 child care records 1[,] ;1 medical and mental health records in the possession of the court 1[,] ;1 family court and juvenile court records 1[,] ;1 and records of the Division of Child Protection and Permanency in the Department of Children and Families.

Notwithstanding      sectionf.    1Except in cases of P.L.1991,willful c.119or (C.2B:5-1),wanton misconduct, a youth mental health care professional hiredacting pursuantin togood P.L.   faith ,within c.   the (C.       scope )of (pendingthe beforeyouth themental Legislaturehealth ascare thisprofessional’s bill)appointment or employment shall behave aimmunity Statefrom employeeany andcivil shallor becriminal inliability thethat unclassifiedotherwise service.might result by reason of 1the1 youth mental health care professional’s actions or failure to act.

     e.     The youth mental health care professional shall have access to all information and records relevant to the youth, including but not limited to:

school records, child care records, medical and mental health records in the possession of the court, family court and juvenile court records, and records of the Division of Child Protection and Permanency in the Department of Children and Families.

     f.     Except in cases of willful or wanton misconduct, a youth mental health care professional acting in good faith within the scope of the youth mental health care professional’s appointment or employment shall have immunity from any civil or criminal liability that otherwise might result by reason of youth mental health care professional’s actions or failure to act.

    STATEMENT        This bill provides for youth mental health care professionals in family court.

     Under the provisions of the bill, the Superior Court, Chancery Division, Family Part in each vicinage must provide for a youth mental health care professional.  A "youth mental health care professional" is a social worker, psychologist, or psychiatrist licensed or certified pursuant to State law with experience in youth development, youth mental health conditions, trauma and the impact of trauma, trauma-informed practices, and evidence-based mental health services.  A youth mental health care professional would be a State employee and in the unclassified service.

     The youth mental health care professional would support and advise the court in every action or proceeding submitted to or heard by the Superior Court, Chancery Division, Family Part, where an individual under 21 years of age is a party to the action or proceeding or a subject of the action or proceeding.

     The youth mental health care professional would assist the court with:

-         Identifying youth with mental health needs;

-         Recognizing when specific mental health interventions are indicated;

-         Providing a referral for evidence-based mental health services when appropriate;

and -         Connecting youth and caregivers to appropriate supports in a timely manner.

     In addition, the bill amends provisions of State law concerning the disclosure of juvenile records to permit a youth mental health care professional to have access to information and records relevant to the youth, including juvenile delinquency records otherwise confidential under State law.